mantra

Mantra was an outstanding find. I discovered Mantra through Resy, and it exceeded expectations across the board. This vegan restaurant delivers bold, thoughtful flavors that feel intentional and satisfying—not just “good for vegan,” but genuinely delicious. The nachos were a fantastic appetizer—crispy, well-balanced, and loaded with flavor. They set the tone immediately. And the cheesecake dessert? Absolutely heavenly. Smooth, rich, and perfectly finished—it alone is worth the visit. The service deserves special mention. Our server was attentive, warm, and knowledgeable, which made the entire experience feel relaxed and welcoming. Add in the calm, plant-filled atmosphere and positive energy of the space, and Mantra becomes the kind of place you want to linger. Exceptional food, great service, and a vibe that feels intentional. I’ll definitely be back.

We went to Mantra this afternoon and it was so delicious. Food was really good and staff were so nice. Will definitely go back again!

I was really excited when my partner had this as my surprise dinner for my bday. The atmosphere is really nice the service was good but I must say that there are things to be perfected when it comes to the taste of the food. My partner and I wasn't really impressed or pleased. When I ordered a side of mushrooms to go along with my food, the mushrooms tasted like they just tossed them on the grill and served. No salt no pepper no seasoning. Every dish we had to add salt and pepper to. And as I thought I was just us other guess we're searching for that salt and pepper shakers as well. It's a one hit wonder for us. Glad I had the experience but we prefer to enjoy our meal and not just get full.

The food was very interesting with unique flavors especially for vegetarians. We loved the coconut calamari, Rasta Pasta and the Tacos. Something to be aware of is that food took almost 30 mins to arrive and portions were smaller (for Houston). However, it’s probably expected from a gourmet restaurant.

Found my new favorite spot. Black owned vegan restaurant off Fannin. I was pleased to know that this establishment is the same owner as Green Seed Vegan. I would describe Mantra as a unique vegan dining experience. It is completely vegan AND gluten free. The food is high quality and doesn’t lack in flavor. It may take awhile to get your food so be patient (I promise it’s worth the wait). I only went for appetizers and highly recommend yucca fries & tex “egg” roll. The music selection was my favorite. There is bar seating towards the center of the space as well as by the front and family style tables throughout. Their wines & beers are also gluten free. They’re closed Monday & Tuesday and only open for dinner. I hope this place gets more recognition because they make their food with love and it shows. 2/9/25- back for more. The coconut calamari was absolutely amazing and the buffalo jack pizza had a very nice spice level to it plus it was full of flavor. Finished it off with the raw strawberry hibiscus cheesecake. Man oh man the flavors here are truly exquisite and one of a kind.

The food was quite tasty and it was fresh. The puebla was really good. So was the calamari though it tasted better with the green sauce from the yucca fries. The guy at the front was also really nice. Overall a really solid spot

This place was AMAZING!! Everything was delicious. I came for my birthday with two family members who are not vegan and they said it was some of the best food they’ve had in a long time. We got the plantain nachos, calamari, hand pies, Rasta pasta, and crab cake (all by the recommendation of our wonderful waiter) I’m so glad that everything was gluten free. Just absolutely amazing all around. Food was good we didn’t even stop to take pics.

Loved, LOVED the energy of this place. The staff was so kind and attentive, and good. Oh, the FOOD. Those plantain nachos are a must. It was light and filling. I also had a chai tea alongside the hibiscus cheesecake, which was delicious as well. Great music, beautiful ambiance, Black-owned, vegan, high-quality, I cannot wait to come back and tell everyone!

We went as a large group: two families meeting part way and neither from the area. It was wonderful to be able to have options for our dairy free and gluten free family. Not only did we have options but the food was very good. We had so many things : pizza, pasta, egg roll, plantain nachos, and yucca fries. We were a little loud (6 kids under 10) but the service was kind and patient -- even when one spilled a full glass of water . They even took a picture of us as a group and made sure my boys were smiling. Overall --- great food, excellent service and overall good experience . We hope to make it back there if we ever are in town again !

Found my new favorite spot. Black owned vegan restaurant off Fannin. I was pleased to know that this establishment is the same owner as Green Seed Vegan. I would describe Mantra as a unique vegan dining experience. It is completely vegan AND gluten free. The food is high quality and doesn't lack in flavor. It may take awhile to get your food so be patient (I promise it's worth the wait). I only went for appetizers and highly recommend yucca fries & tex "egg" roll. The music selection was my favorite. There is bar seating towards the center of the space as well as by the front and family style tables throughout. Their wines & beers are also gluten free. They're closed Monday & Tuesday and only open for dinner. I hope this place gets more recognition because they make their food with love and it shows.

Fantastic food, drinks, ambiance. I'm glad we got there early because it's hoppin' after 7. I had the rose lemonade with Tito's and the man had a gluten free beer. Started with the Tex rolls and then it was all on my husband to make the choices. I could not choose from the amazing array of dishes. Alex, the server, on his own making drinks, greeting, serving and exemplifying the patience of a saint with demanding, needy patrons never showed any strain, stress or annoyance. Just kind, thoughtful, prompt service. I only got a a picture of the app because we dug into the black lentil burger, lions mane "crab cake" and the masala dishes which were perfect. I get to eat the rest tomorrow which I am so excited about. We brought home the cheesecake because....vegan cheesecake. Thrilled that we got to experience yet another wonderful vegan restaurant that I cannot recommend enough.

One of the best vegan restaurants in Houston! Top notch food, service, and atmosphere. We started with an order of the yucca fries - crispy and well seasoned on the outside, and deliciously soft on the inside. These were perfection! Next, we shared an order of plantain nachos. The "cheese" was amazing and creamy, served with a healthy portion of avocado and pico. Super yummy! Lastly, we shared the "crab cake" sandwich and holy cow, it was delicious. The breading was creative, flavorful, and crispy - the "crab" was made from mushrooms - the combination of flavors was delightful. You can certainly tell the chef pays attention to every little detail and brings the perfect balance of flavors to every dish. Alongside the friendly and helpful service, the ambiance of the restaurant gives a nice, chill, laid-back vibe. We can't wait to go back and explore the menu more!

Seven of us ate there last night and we all ordered different dishes and we all reported that we really liked what we got. I can vouch for the Maitake Chimichurri. The desserts were also quite good.

The ambience was incredible but the food was subpar. Everything was okay but it didn't have enough seasoning. I like the concept but after being vegan for 4 years, i wasn't impressed.

Cannot say enough good things about this place. The food was delicious, the staff helpful, the ambiance relaxing. I went with friends and everyone was impressed. Definitely a new favorite place. Really love that its vegan and gluten free and yummy.

Definitely feels a little like a ghost kitchen and service was slow. I was hoping that this would be a greens and lettuce type of vegan place but they specialize in many items that are relatively greasy with vegan cheese (pretty much my least favorite vegan thing). So not for me. My husband and bff loved it since they don't mind vegan cheese. Parking looked hard - we ubered. Ambiance is fine - plenty of seating. The plantain fries and jackfruit sandwich was wonderful. That's what I ended up ordering as an anti-vegan-cheeser.

A lot of vegan restaurants are gimmicky, so I often approach these sorts of places with pessimism. But Mantra was a nice change of pace as the menu, while justifiably pricey due to the quality of ingredients used, was tasty and clearly technique-driven. They undoubtedly use the best meat substitutes, and our meal featured some fun surprises. We did visit fairly early in their development, thus while the interior was what I would call urban minimalist, there was a great deal of construction outside that made for a fairly ugly view. There was only one front-of-house employee, but he did a wonderful job explaining everything and serving us. My thoughts on our meal: Coconut Calamari - A dish that blew my mind and is an absolute must if you dine here. The taste is indistinguishable from the squid counterpart, though of course the texture can't quite compare. I wish the pieces were a little on the larger side. K-Seoul Pizza - gluten-free crust with vegan mozzarella, sauteed mushrooms, and a syrupy sauce that was tangy, fruity, and spicy. A fragrant and fresh tasting delight, though part of me wishes it was less saucy. The Lioness - a Lions mane crab cake sandwich of sorts. If you've never had this particular shroom, it's super meaty in texture and really tasty. The flavors were there, but I found the actually patty too thin and the gluten-free bun a tad too chewy. The thick-cut fries were well seasoned and fluffy. Overall, probably would try something else instead of paying $18 for this dish again.

Everything we had was amazing! Great menu selection! The service was excellent and we can't wait to come back!! Highly recommend especially if you have dietary restrictions!

I thought the food was overall ok. I liked the desserts the best. The pasta was actually below average like you at home could make better just using a jar a of tomato sauce and some noodles. I want this restaurant to do well, I honestly do. I think that they are going to have to make their dishes better. I expect a vegan restaurant to make delicious Brussel Sprouts but theirs was ok. It tasted like something anyone could make using a broiler, salt, and olive oil. The Masala was the best and that is coming from someone who hates mushrooms. The sauce was the star of the dish. It was simple and comforting. The service was awful but it wasn't due to the waitress not working. she could had used a bit of front of house assistance. That being said, we were there for 2 hours because the service was that slow. I hope they grow into their identity and elevate their service and food.

We enjoyed the service and atmosphere of mantra, and when seated felt a little sad there weren't more people there. I think the two items we ordered just needed a liiittle more of something - more lime and seasoning in the coconut ceviche, more heat or some kind of condiment on the pizza, both were alright but not quite up to the quality that the ambiance and vibe of the space leads you to expect. Just a few tweaks could make these both really great plates. I'd like to return to sample some of the other items!

I've been to other vegan restaurants that copy regular non-vegan food and it taste like crap and it's overpriced and I leave dissapointed. Not the case with Mantra! We ate multiple items on the menu and it tasted great! The service was A1, very attentive. The drinks were a good kind of different. Best thing we had was the cheesecake. Ten out of ten would recommend. I will be returning!

This place was awesome! Attentive servers. The food was delicious. I got the Buffalo Jack pizza. The portions are decent size but not too overwhelming. Good fresh ingredients. I also really liked the decor and vibe inside. Great place to check out even if you're not vegan or gluten free.

Tried this place out for the first time and it was absolutely delicious restaurant was very clean and our waiter served our food with gloves on. They have soft music in the background and the decor is very nice. I highly recommend trying this place out.

I was so excited to find this place in Houston. The atmosphere was really classy. The server was very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the menu items. We tried the egg rolls, the lioness, maitake dish, and the raw cheesecake. All were delicious. Would highly recommend this place!

Whew. Not good. Had high hopes for this place as there are so few exclusively plant-based restaurants in Houston. The yucca fries were good but the two mushroom dishes were just BAD. You could taste the oil in the dish and a weird chemical taste. They were not edible. The service was very slow but that's beside the point.

Such a cool restaurant! The decor and lighting are great for a romantic date spot. Lots of vegan and dairy free options. Everything we've tried has been delicious! We've never needed reservations and can usually get a table immediately. Also offers takeout!

Their Mantra should be: do not go there...do not go there... The food was forgettable ...and unfortunately the service was even worse. For some reason our server would not use the iPad to record our order but instead relied on her memory...which resulted in forgotten orders and serious delays in getting drinks and everyone of our orders. We were excited to try a new vegan restaurant...but sadly we will not be returning.

Ohhh soosoo divine!! I really need to learn how to make some of these dishes. Their service is also exceptional. Cristian is the sweetest and tentative server. He's great about recommending new things to try.

Mantra is an entire vibe! The decor is super modern and neat. There's a huge beautiful amethyst in a corner and the space is full of plants and good vibes. The food is 100% vegan and delicious Great staff too.

Mantra was AMAZING. It started off with a wonderful gentleman that was so helpful, super pleasant, and nice. After looking at their 100% vegan and GF menu, I couldn't decide what to get so we got a ton . The coconut calamari is phenomenal and seriously was, by far, the best vegan dish I've ever had! Egg rolls and the yucca fries were good. Plantain nachos were amazing as was the korean bbq tacos and penne! Mantra's ambience was chill and laid back with great music. Its beautiful inside and the service was really beyond excellent. Nice clean eating with a well thought out menu and exceptional customer service.

Run, don't walk, for the EXCELLENT service and the coconut calamari. Wow! The verde pizza and broccolini salad left a lot to be desired. Wanted to love it, but the pepitas were rancid, the cheez dollops didn't taste like anything, and the pizza sauce which was "herbed tomato" didn't have a tomato in it. They were both robust portions and super stocked with vegetables which is great, but we agreed the flavor just wasn't there. I'll update my review with another visit bc again, the service was soooo great and the appetizer was exquisite - there's gotta be something else on the menu that's as likeable!

The superb customer service was the first thing I noticed about this place. Our waitress was friendly and genuine and gave tons of helpful recommendations for us. The decor and environment was beautiful and clean. It wasn't too busy, there was only one other table occupied besides us on a weekend night which was a bit surprising. We got the margarita pizza and the lioness. The vegan cheese on the pizza was the most flavorful I've ever had in the 5 months I've been vegan but i won't lie and say we weren't disappointed in the serving size. It was the radius of a personal pizza but they only gave half of the whole circle. the crust was quite thin so you might need to order a bit more to be full. The lioness was good but not quite what I expected either. the standouts were the bun and the crispy yucca fries that came with it. Overall I enjoyed my experience and I could tell they put in a lot of thought behind each dish but the taste falls a little short of the price.

Wanted some really great food and a a nice place to enjoy our anniversary and this didn't disappoint! Loved all the food (ordered quite a few different things) and loved that they had some delicious non-alcoholic drinks on the menu for a nice alternative! Definitely come here for some good eats!

The yucca fries were great. we arrived at 6:30 order appetizer and entree at the same time we left at 8:02 still no food there was no one coming to tell us there was a delay we finally got up and left horrible service

This place is so cute. The person that served us was very helpful and nice. I had their plantain nachos, this food tastes very home made to me, which is a great thing! I love eating places that bring that type of comfort

This place was really good!! I highly recommend the Coconut Calamari! Can't wait to try out more items. The vibe of the place is great as well.

Awesome food and service. Our server, Ivy, was top notch. Our first time in and we tried several items to get a feel: Yucca fries- great taste, good crunch and not very oily Brussel sprouts- a bit heavy on the sauce, but tasty, probably get again and ask easy on sauce Korean tacos- I thought only ok, funny taste, my wife loved them and finished hers and mine Yucca tacos- we reversed she passed after one taste and I finished the order, yucca chips good crunch, queso yummy with a hint of spice Strawberry cheesecake- get it! We will be back.

Fresh, clean venue with outstanding customer service and delicious gluten-free, vegan cuisine. Tasty and satisfying!

This food is so so good!! 100% vegan and gluten free. I got the yucca fries, Buffalo jack, & plantain nachos. Definitely will be back!

Went for dinner here last weekend and the food was amazing! Some of our favorite dishes were the ceviche, plantain nachos, mushroom marsala, and the kimchi tacos. So delicious! Even my husband who normally doesn't eat plant-based loved his dish. The desserts were super yummy too, and so was the bottle of vegan wine we had. Will definitely return!

Came to eat here after a rockets game, a short drive from the Toyota center & so worth it!!! The service was great & the food was delicious. I will keep coming back. Lovely calming interior decor, nice experience & the waiter was very kind. New place in town to try !!

Great new vegan restaurant in Midtown near than upcoming ion district! From the owners of green seed vegan, Mantra aspires to be a dine in/after Hours place for vegan food. Unique items on the menu, in particular the calamari. Parking can be a little bit challenging but there should be spots available around the corner. Will definitely check out again!

This is a newer restaurant with great goodies. The food presentation was amazing, the utensils were gorgeously gold-colored, great customer service, and the music was phenomenal. Our tables ordered a few items: - Tex Eggrolls - Rastapasta - Lionsmane Burger with Yucca Fries - Blackberry Pizza - Brussel Sprouts - Margarita Pizza The egg rolls were very hot, crunchy and flavorful! Definitely a win. Rastapasta is spicy but flavorful! The brussels were fried to perfection with great balsamic flavor. The blackberry pizza was pretty good as well, the crust was nice and fluffy (almost like flat bread). Friends also got the burger and other pizza, but overall we liked our food! Support a budding business

If we could give Mantra 6 stars we would. 3 of us stopped in before a concert, and we were greeted and waited on by Walter. What a fantastic start to the meal. Very personable, answered all our questions, and even gave us a bit of insight on Mantra. Now to the food......AMAZING !!! We had the calamari and spring rolls to start with. Great taste and texture, and the sauces they served with it were perfect. For dinner I had the Korean tacos....you don't want to miss them, and my two other dining partners had the Marsala....again....amazing. I am definitely not Vegan, but whether you are or not, Mantra is not to be missed.

What a tasty and great experience! Mantra is the grown-up restaurant version of Green Seed with the same healthy, real-food esthetic, along with a liquor license. We had the yucca fries, Coconut calamari, and Brussels sprouts to start, along with a great biodynamic rose. Mains were two types of pizza and a Caesar salad. Dessert was oat ice "cream" and strawberry "cheese" cake. Everything was delicious! This is a terrific restaurant and a it deserves to be full-to-overflowing. Until then, I will be eating here and thanking my lucky stars to found Mantra!